Changing radiator... recommed fluids

SE-Rfornow · 09-07-2003, 04:22 PM

Cliffsnotes: What brands/amounts of fluids should I have ready for swapping in a Modine radiator (also where are good places to buy from).

I have searched!!! I have a 1991 B13 with sr20det swap (stock t25) which overheated pretty badly the other day. I was driving to work and all of a sudden I heard some explosions coming from under the car. I looked at my temp gauge which was all the way to the right and my heart sunk.

The radiator had a pressure leak so I never noticed any fluids under the car and thus just about all of the coolant leaked out. I could squeeze the hoses and feel no fluid or pressure.

After I limped the car home (engine didn't feel any different in the lower rpms so I don't think I warped the head or anything... hopefully), I ordered a new Modine radiator from Blackbird (very cool funny guy). It should be here by wednesday and I just want to have all of the fluids that are necessary ready.

I know most of the recommended fluid for our cars like redline tranny fluid, Mobil 1 synthetic etc., but what coolant fluids are recommended? Carlos (blackbird) and Matt (panx2k&SE-R) recommended Redline water wetter, but how much should I get (12oz bottle good enough I found at raceshopper.com for 7 bucks)? Also what coolant and how much should I use (%distilled water and %coolant and %water wetter)? I will probably be paying someone to do this for me because I have very limited knowledge on the coolant system and I can't afford to mess it up (college student).

On a side note, I know I should use Mobil 1 synthetic in my DET but my parents also have a 1998 se-r and I was wondering what oil to use for that sweety.

Thankyou for reading this and I hope someone can help me out here.

Paul

denske · 09-07-2003, 04:41 PM

in the summer just run water plus the redline water wetter,if you want to run some coolant in there only run like 15-20%.oh yeah,and one 12oz bottle is good, but you can run a couple bottles,thats what i do.good luck bro

Pretty White · 09-07-2003, 05:15 PM

www.radiatorsexpress.com

SE-Rfornow · 09-08-2003, 11:44 AM

Thanks for the help guys... I now will be educated in my radiator swap.

mpg9999 · 09-08-2003, 01:53 PM

I would run more antifreeze. Two reasons. First, antifreeze has anticorosive properties. Second, you live in pa where it gets cold in the winter. It just so happens winter is coming up. I would run a 50/50 mix along with a bottle of some redline water wetter. Buy whatever brand antifreeze you want to, shouldnt make much of a difference.

Slartibartfast · 09-08-2003, 05:46 PM

Yes indeedy, you want antifreeze for the corrosion resistance. Be careful, there are now two incompatible formulations out there. Which ever one you use, never mix the other with it. If you start with green, stay with green; likewise, if you start with orange, stay with orange. They both have the same nominal corrosion resistance and temperature stability but the new orange stuff is designed to last 100k miles.